ALBRIGHT: 'Vladimir Putin could not dream up a better presidential candidate than Donald Trump'

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright blasted Donald Trump
on Wednesday over his apparent coziness with Russia.

On a conference call with eastern European community leaders
hosted by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's
campaign, Albright depicted Trump, the Republican presidential
nominee, as the pro-Russia candidate.

"Donald Trump, beyond just praising [Russian President Vladimir]
Putin, has defended his most unacceptable behavior and proposed a
series of pro-Kremlin policies," Albright, who has endorsed
Clinton for president, said.

She then ticked off a list of Trump's recent statements to
bolster her point, noting that he has
suggested he'd be open to easing sanctions on Russia,
recognizing the country's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in
Ukraine, and
said that Putin is "not going to go into Ukraine."

She continued: "Vladimir Putin could not dream up a better
presidential candidate than Donald Trump to help him move his
grand vision forward."

Russia watchers and analysts say Putin wants to see Europe
fracture to strengthen Russia's position in the geopolitical
arena. The future of the EU, which Russia is not a part of, seems
less certain now that the UK voted to leave the bloc.

Trump "has so scared our" allies that Albright "had to have a
phone call with Estonian officials in order to make clear that
Secretary Clinton was a firm supporter and believer in Article 5
and in NATO," Albright said, referring to the principle of
collective defense.